Plumb and chalk line.



J. FRIENDSHIP.

PLUMB AND CHALK LINE. APPLICATION FILED MAB..19,1913.

1 ,098,033 I Patented May 26, 1914.

WiTHESSES mvanrow JOHN FRIENDSHIP, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

PLUMB AND CHALK LINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed March 19, 1913. Serial No. 755,384.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J OHN FRIENDSHIP, acitizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of Wayne,State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inPlumb and Chalk Lines, and declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the same, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

This invention relates to combined plumb and chalk lines. It involvesthe idea of using a member which may interchangeably be used as theplumb-bob on a plumb-line and the fastening member for a chalk-line.

It further relates to improvements in a chalk-line embracing, amongother improvements, a split sleeve which is adjustable along thesecuring member to bring the chalk-line to almost the plane upon whichit is intended to mark, thereby bringing it to a position where it maybe snapped to properly mark the surface and a position where tension onthe chalk-line is least liable to bend over the securing member.

In the drawings :Figure 1, is a perspective of the instrument. Fig. 2,shows its use as a plumb-line. Fig. 3, shows its use as a chalk-line.

A, represents a casing provided with an opening 1, through which a line2 enters the interior of the casing. Within the casing is a drum (notshown) which is operated by a retracting spring (not shown) in theconventional way that tape-measures are retracted into the case anddrawn out of the case. This specific construction is not a part of theinvention.

On the end of the line 2 is a member 3 which may be interchangeably usedas the fastening device for a chalk line or the plumb-bob for aplumb-line. This member comprises a globular head and an integraltapering stem which tapers to a sharp point 4. The member 3 is entirelyindependent of the line 2 and is fastened thereto by the frictionalengagement of a split sleeve 5. This split sleeve has an eye 6 fastenedat the side and extreme end. Through this eye the line 2 is looped andfastened as at 7 The split sleeve 5 has some resiliency by reason ofbeing split and it will hold by a frictional engagement with the member3.

Fig. 2, shows the member 3 used as a plumb-bob. It is of sufficientweight by reason of the globular head 3 and the thick stem to hangsteadily when dropped from a position above. Line 2 then becomes aplumb-line by which the vertical may be ascertained.

Fig. 3, shows the use of the member 3 as a fastening device for a chalkline. The member 3 in this use becomes practically a thumb tack which,by reason of the sharp point 4:, may be pushed into the surface B. 'Whenit has been pushed in to the desired depth to securely hold it, thesplit sleeve 5 may be pushed against the surface B. The eye 6 being atthe extreme end of the sleeve 5, the line 2 will be held approximatelyagainst the surface B so that when the line is chalked and snapped, itwill make a clear chalk line upon the surface B. It will also be noticedthat any draw upon the line 2 will be communicated to the member 3 at apoint with the least leverage so as to be the least liable to bend thatmember and pull it out or, in case the line 2 is being used formeasuring, to alter the measurements so as to make them correct.

On one side of the case A, I employ a bracket 8 which is shown in thedrawings as integral with the side of the casing, but which may besecured thereto in any desired manner. This bracket 8 is slightlytapering so that the member 3 with the split sleeve 5 may be wedged intoit. Or, the bracket 8 may be in the nature of a spring clip which willhold the member 3. The bracket 8 is set obliquely to the casing A sothat the point 4 will come against the side wall of the casing A or sonear against it that this sharp point will be guarded to prevent itssticking into anybody or anything. The instrument may, therefore, becarried in the pocket without any danger or injury.

This instrument is especially adapted for carpenters, paper-hangers anddecorators who often have occasion to use plumb-lines and alsochalk-lines. It embodies, as already explained, devices by which boththe vertical may be attained and a chalk mark made. The cord 2 may belooped over the tapered end of the member 4,- if desired and theplumb-bob will then hang substantially end adjacent the pointed end ofthe stem,

whereby the fastening member may be forced into a surface and then thesplit sleeve may be forced down against the surface to bring the chalkline into intimate relation with the surface and keep it there,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twoWitnesses.

JOHN FRIEND SHIP.

Witnesses:

STUART C. BARNES, AMELIA C. KOEHN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. G.

